Life-guard to be applied to electric tram-cars.



No. 798,968. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. H. LAMBELLE.

LIFE GUARD TO BE APPLIED T0 ELECTRIC TEAM CARS.

APPLIOATION FILED 1110.25. 1904.

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H. LAMBELLE. LIFE GUARD TO BE APPLIED TO ELECTRIC TEAM CARS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG.25.1904.

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H. LAMBELLE. I LIFE. GUARD TO BE APPLIED TO ELECTRIC TRAM CARS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

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LIFE-GUARD TO BE APPLIED TO ELECTRIC TRAlVl-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed August 25.1904:- Serial No. 222,177.

To (til whom 1'1? m/u l concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY humans, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at h liddlcsln'ough, in the county of York, England, have invented a new and useful Lifebuard to be Applied to Electric Tram-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved lifeguard to be applied to electric tram-cars, the object being to provide a simple and efficient life-guard which shall be under perfect control by the motorman and positive in its action To this end the life guard comprises a cradle-shaped net suspended from the under side of the car-platform by three connectingrods. Two of these rods supply the necessary parallel motion, the other rod depressing the front end of the cradle-shaped net to the near surface of the pavement, while tilting the rear end and holding it thus rigidly in position when down or in working position. The cradle-shaped net is raised to its inoperative position by a chain or rope coacting with a barrel or the like at the top end of a cylindrical column fixed on the end of the car and immediately hen the cradle-shaped net is thus raised to its inoperative position. it is held in position by a clutch-rod and springpawl coacting therewith. The cradle-shaped net is released, so that it can be lowered to its operative position, through the'action of a knee-plate on the lever end of the pawl, so that when the knee-plate is pressed by the knee of the motorman the pawl is released, and the cradleshaped net immediately falls into such a position that the two outermost or front ends of the net-frame, which terminate in a pair of wheels, run in the rail-slot, and being held rigidly in this position the net catches up whatever lies in the track of the car.

In order that the said invention may be more readily understood, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation partially in section. Fig. 2 is a plan of under side of tram-car platform, showing such parts of the invention as are applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation showing the life-guard raised out of action. Fig. a is a similar sectional side elevation showing the life-guard lowered as when in working action.

A represents a hollow vertical column provided with a cap or cover B, suitably secured in front of the motormanfi to the column, as by bolts passing through a plurality of lugs E on the column and the flanged portion B of the cap. The column is provided with an enlarged opening F, and adjacent said opening are a pair of curved lugs ('ir.

lI a clutch-rod provided at its upper end with the piston ll, turned to fit the bore of the column A. On this clutch rod H are formed two clutches or teeth J and K, so arranged that they are adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from a pawl L, provided with a clutch-tooth and an arm L, the said pawl being pivotally supported, as at 1 "hen the fender or guard is put in or out of aetionas, for instance, when the pawl L is released from thelower clutch K, as in Fig. 3, and the clutch-rod H falls-the pawl IJ catches in the upper clutch J, as in Fig. 1L, this figure showing the fender in its lowermost position. The clutch-rod II moves in a guide M, bolted to the inner side of the column A.

N is a spring secured to the casing engaging the pawl L, tensioned to hold the same in its normal position in the path of the clutchrod H.

O is a knee-plate pivotally supported, as at R, between the lugs or plates G and provided with a head of triangular conformation, as shown, the base or surface I. normally resting against the arm L of the pawl when in its normal position; but when the knee-plate Q is pressed down by the operator the lower edge 0' operates the pawl around its pivot L bringing its clutch-tooth out of alined position with the clutch-rod, and thereby releasing the latter.

S is an eyebolt secured to the top of the piston H and connected by a shackle S to a chain T, operating over a drum X, carried by a shaft X, journaled in the cap B, which shaft may be squared at one end, as shown at Y, for applying a crank-handle for elevating the fender or guard when it has been released and is in its lowermost position.

The base of the column A is provided with an annular flange 1), adapted to rest on the platform U, the bore of the column A registering with an aperture through the platform. Underneath the platform below this aperture is provided an annular plate provided with the curved casting l), and this annular plate, together with the flanged portion 1) of the column, is securely fastened in position on the platform, as indicated at A. through the interposition of tie'bolts passing through the rearward passage of an operating cable or chain hereinafter referred to.

To each side of the column A are suspended the hanger-bars A provided at their upper and lower ends with the fork portions A and B, respectively, the fork portions A being pivotally connected to T-plates Z and Z, as at A the lateral arms of said T-plates being suitably secured, as shown, to the underneath face of the platform. The frame B to which the net A of the guard or fender is secured, is of a semicircular shape at its rear end and thence bent downwardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and widening at its lower ends, as shown at Fig. 2, to adapt the ends thereof to the width of gage of the track, the ends being provided with fork extensions B, in which are journaled rollers A, adapted to run in the grooves A of the rails A The transverse bar B at the outer end of the fender or guard may be reduced, as at B*, and secured by being projected in holes in the frame B and clenched thereto. These suspending-rods A which supply the parallel motion and the drop required, are secured to the side pieces of the fender-frame through the interposition of the forked ends B, pivotally connected by pivot-pins passing through the sides of the frame, this connection being preferably about centrally of the fender.

The rear end of the fender is suspended by a connecting-rod 0, having a forked upper end G spanning the vertical webs of the angleplates C secured to the under face of the platform, the connecting-rod being pivotally secured to these vertical webs through the interpositionof the pivot-pin (1*. The lower end C of the connecting-rod C is pivotally connected, as by the pin C, within the forked end E of an arm E, fitted centrally to and projecting forwardly from the rear of the frame B This connection of the arm E to the frame B may be made as shown, the inner end of the arm being recessed to receive the rod B and provided with web plates adapted to be securely bolted, as at E, to a strap-plate disposed on the opposite side of the frame, the arm being held against turning thereon by a key-pin E". The upper portion of the web-plate on this arm E may be extended, as shown, to receive the pin E of a shackle E.

D designates a pair of angle-irons suitably secured, as at D to the underneath face of the platform, the vertical webs of said angleirons being spaced apart and adapted to receive the guide pulley or sheave D journaled therein on the pin D.

W represents the operating cable or chain secured at one end to the shackle E thence reeving over the pulley D thence extending forwardly through the opening D of the curved casting D thence reeving under the pulley D and extending upwardly through the aperture in the platform into the hollow column A, where its other end is secured to a shackle V, pivotally connected by the pin U to the lower end of the clutch-rod H.

The action is as follows: In the position shown in Fig. 3 the life-guard is raised outof action; but the parts are in their relative positions ready for being lowered and the lifeguard being put into working action. Thus in case of emergency the motorrnan presses the knee-plate O, which causes the pawl L to tilt or oscillate on its axis, so releasing the clutch-rod H, which action, together with the pull of the apparatus, as soon as such release takes place,causes the partsto assume the operative positions shown in Fig. 4, wherein the life-gu ard is illustrated as when in working action. The life-guard is maintained in this position until the motorman operates the barrel X, when the parts are returned to their inoperative positions, as shown in Fig. 3.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A life-guard for electric tram-cars, comprising as essential features, a cradle-shaped net suspended by and supported in its operative and inoperative positions by framework controlled by connecting-rods, and actuated by a chain or rope coacting with a clutch capable of being operated by the motorman, substantially as set forth.

2. A life-guard for electric tram-cars comprising as essential features, a cradle-shaped net, suspended by and supported in its operative and inoperative positions by connectingrods, a chain or rope passing from the cradleshaped net over pulleys to a clutch-rod, and

from there to a winding-barrel, such clutchrod coacting with a pawl under the control of the motorman, substantially as set forth.

3. A life-guard for electric tram-cars, comprising as essential features, a cradle-shaped net, suspended by and supported in its operative and inoperative positions by framework controlled by connecting-rods, a hollow column having a clutch-rod capable of working therein, like a piston, such clutch-rod being connected at one end to the cradle-shaped net, at the other end to a barrel; and coacting with a pawl or the like clutch arrangement, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY LAMBELLE.

lVitnesses:

T. A. BANKS, WM. ECKERT. 

